International Relations Emphasis
Rationale for the Emphasis
The International Relations Emphasis allows students to focus on the international system and the interaction of national and non-national actors on the global stage. Sample topics addressed by the International Relations Emphasis include:
- International Organizations
- Transnational Movements
- Conflict Resolution, Peace and Reconciliation
- Military-Strategic Issues
- International Political Economy
- Human Rights
- Development and Economic Justice
- Global Sustainability
The International Relations Emphasis, with its global systematic/thematic focus, does not include the study of individual nations, peoples or other topics usually associated with Comparative Politics. While individual Comparative or other Political Science courses may be relevant for the IR emphasis topics, students wanting to pursue Area Studies should enroll in the University’s International Studies, European Studies, African Studies, Asian Studies, Arabic-Islamic Studies, or Latin American Studies minors.
Requirements for the Emphasis
"Old Core" Checklist
"New Core" Checklist
Political Science Major:
- complete standard major requirements
- senior seminar must be in International Relations or Comparative Politics
Three Additional Curricular Requirements
- 2 additional upper division International Relations classes (one of which may count for Upper-division elective w/in major)
- 1 lower or upper division class outside of the Political Science department in a relevant topic, subject to approval by the emphasis director. Sample classes meeting this requirement include but are not limited to:
Economics 003, International Economics, Development and Growth
Economics 137, World Economic History
Economics 181, International Trade
Economics 182, International Finance and Open Economy Macroeconomics
History 105, Modern World History
History 124, Diplomacy and War: Europe, 1870-1939
History 135, Women and Gender in Modern Europe
History 138, Second World War
History 142, Modern West Asia and North Africa
History 145, Islam in the Modern World
History 151, Imperialism in East Asia
History 154B, Modern India
History 162, Argentina
TESP 159, Ethics of War and Peace
Sociology 133. Politics and Society in Developing Societies
Sociology 134, Globalization and Inequality
One required off campus academic experience:
- Study Abroad
- Washington Semester Program (with international component)
- Arrupe/Kolvenhach internship or community-based learning (with international component)
- Local internship related to international relations
